Happy Holidays to All

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season filled with laughter, good friends, family and fun times. This is a good time to look back at 2009, remember all the highlights and express gratitude for all the learning experiences. As Susan B. Anthony said, "Failure is impossible." Just learn from any mistakes you made and move on.

I will now leave you with a slideshow of holiday images to enjoy. Photographs are by my partner, Patty Mooney.

Proud Finalist of "Most Admired CEO" Awards

I was honored to be a finalist in the San Diego Business Journal's Third Annual "Most Admired CEO Awards" competition. SDBJ held a well-attended gathering downtown at the San Diego Marriott Ballroom where we all had a chance to network with each other and enjoy "heavy hors doervres." I was in great company with other CEO's from around the region.

It's always a good thing when you receive recognition for your work. And my profession as a video producer and Director of Photography is a little bit different than your usual "nine to five." Each video production calls for a whole new venue and cast of characters. It's rewarding, but there's a lack of consistent social interaction, as you would find in most jobs. So shaking a few hands and networking with other CEO's was a lot of fun for me.


I even had a chance to say hello to San Diego's Mayor, Jerry Sanders.


Photographs by Brian Bostrum, Brian Bostrom Photography. Thanks Brian!

DOF Secretary Hilda Solis Visits San Diego - by Mark Schulze

Crystal Pyramid Productions recently had the opportunity to videotape the visit of Department of Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis to the Veterans Village of San Diego, a nonprofit organization that works to bring homeless veterans back into society. VVSD was celebrating the completion of the construction of Phase Two of its rehabilitation center for homeless military veterans suffering from chemical dependency or mental health issues. This phase of the project adds 112 early treatment beds, a medical facility, an employment center and administration building to better serve those in need.

Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), aka Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, is dedicated to extending assistance to needy and homeless veterans of all wars and eras and their families by providing housing, food, clothing, substance abuse recovery and mental health counseling, job training and job search assistance. Their mission statement: "We believe in the inherent worth of each and every Veteran and his or her right to a rehabilitation program which leads to renewed self-worth and independent living."

Here I am videotaping the speech that Secretary Solis delivered to the residents and volunteers at VVSD.

These are some of the residents of VVSD, formerly homeless veterans who have made the commitment to eliminate drugs and alcohol from their lives, participate in a year-long live-in program at VVSD, and return as healthy and beneficial members of their communities.

Phil Landis, CEO of VVSD, stands in front of a mural that features himself as a young man who served in Vietnam

I discovered this video on youtube that covers Secretary Solis's visit to VVSD. I am the camera operator wearing a white baseball cap. And my partner and wife, Patty Mooney, who shot the above three photographs, is the woman in blue carrying the boom pole. This is rare footage of us, the people usually BEHIND the scenes.

San Diego Comic Con Back in 2001 - by Mark Schulze

A view of the convention floor at San Diego Convention Center from above. At the time we were amazed at the crowds, but this appears empty compared to today's standards. The show has been sold out for weeks. There will be many people trying to sneak in and there will be many disappointed people who cannot get in.

Electronic Playground's Julie Stoffer interviews Director, Bryan Singer, on the fly.

The crew poses for a group photo after a two-day shoot together. Seen are myself (Mark Schulze), Patty Mooney, Tommy Tallarico, Victor Lucas and Julie Stoffer

Top two photographs by Patty Mooney who was a Sound Technician on this gig.

San Diego Comic Con Blast From the Past - by Mark Schulze

Photographs of some interesting conventioneers on the floor of the San Diego Comic Con back in 2001.

Photographs by Patty Mooney.

Vintage Batmobile at San Diego Comic Con - by Mark Schulze

In 2001, the Batmobile was on display at the San Diego Comic Con. Kids and Dads really seemed to get a kick out of it.

That year we were shooting for Electronic Playground, Canada's biggest TV show related to videogames and technology. Producer, Victor Lucas and his pal, Tommy Tallarico, couldn't be happier to get a "ride" in the Batmobile.

Here I am wearing my Easyrig II which really takes the pressure off your shoulders and back. It's turned out to be one of the best video equipment investments I ever made; I still use it, it still performs beautifully, and I recommend it to any camera operator.

I shot interviews and B-Roll all that weekend for Electronic Playground and we cruised around the convention floor like there was no tomorrow, but by far the Batmobile is the thing that yanked the cranks of Victor and Tommy.

Photos by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming Fast - by Mark Schulze

When you are at the San Diego Comic Con, try not to blink because then you will miss something.

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con One Month Away - by Mark Schulze

A view inside the San Diego Convention Center with San Diego Comic Con signage and a few furry characters.

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con Is Getting Closer - by Mark Schulze

You run into a lot of wild costumed characters at the San Diego Comic Con. These photographs were shot by Patty Mooney, our esteemed Audio Technician and Producer. We are all gearing up for this year's Comic Con, we have our passes, and we are ready to roll. By the way, for anybody who was not early enough to grab the worm, this show has been sold out for a few weeks now. Amazing, isn't it?

Kim Kardashian and Carmen Elektra at San Diego Comic Con 2008 - by Mark Schulze

One highlight for Patty Mooney (my wife and partner who plays Sound Technician and/or Producer on our video shoots) was an interview with Kim Kardashian and Carmen Elektra. Kim and I learned that we have one thing in common; she's Armenian and I am half Armenian. They spoke about their movie, "Scary Movie 4."

San Diego Comic Con is Getting Closer - by Mark Schulze

Here are a few shots taken by my partner, who plays Sound Technician at times, and at other times plays Producer - Patty Mooney. These are glimpses outside the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego Comic Con 2008. We dig the traffic dude's Elvis do.

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

By now I think you know that I am a Director of Photography and Videographer, and that I have covered the San Diego Comic Con for my broadcast clients for over a decade. Right now I am presenting this modest pictorial of photographs taken in and around the San Diego Comic Con by my partner, Patty Mooney, who is a sound technician and producer. As I mentioned before, not everything "Comic Con" is confined to the convention floor. There is a festival of happenings outside on the street. Anyone with a camera can have a total field day with the eye candy displayed during this convention, even if they never make it inside the big glass doors. And most people you encounter ABSOLUTELY LOVE having their photo taken.

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

When it comes to San Diego Comic Con, which has been going strong for the last 39 years - this year will be its 40th anniversary - there is as much happening outside the San Diego Convention Center as inside. Everybody and everything are all dressed up in fantastical costumery. Many Comic Con devotees spend the entire year gearing up for this wondrous weekend. Some embellish their get-ups for years. It's truly an honor and a privilege to be onsite during this convention; there's nothing else like it anywhere.

Photos by Patty Mooney

Hugh Jackman Rocks San Diego Comic Con - by Mark Schulze

One of the moments that stands out for me at last year's San Diego Comic Con occurred right after a panel featuring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis from "Max Payne." Who sauntered into the hall but Wolverine himself, in his civilian clothes. The audience, and particularly the women, screamed and cheered, until he settled them down enough to announce that he had just gotten off a plane from Australia and that nothing could have kept him from coming to Comic Con to thank his fans. He said, "Without you, I wouldn't have a career. Without you, there would be no Wolverine." Again the hall broke out into screams and cheers. He strode across the stage a couple of times, and then he was gone, just like that.

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

These are assorted photos showing the outside environment at San Diego Comic Con where our broadcast video production crew covers the show for our various clients.

A view across the street from the San Diego Convention Center; San Diego Hard Rock Hotel on the right where the limo is parked

San Diego Comic Con Conventioneers crossing the street

San Diego Comic Con is kid- and family-friendly

Whoa, remember the Hot Dog Mobile?

Photographs by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

Do not mess with this guy

Do not mess with the green guy either


A glimpse of the San Diego Comic Con convention floor; it's tight

Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connolly appeared on a panel for 'The Day the Earth Stood Still," 2008

Photos by Patty Mooney

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

Welcome to the second installment of San Diego Comic Con photos from over the years. This batch is from 2008, inside the San Diego Convention Center. But in the next days and weeks I will devote my page to some vintage photos that will take you way back!

These three handsome guys are all serving in the Marines and volunteered to be ushers at the various panels at Comic Con

Sign posted outside the lavatories; unfortunately non-humans cannot read

Two Avators in the hallway

More fun and frolicking with photogs and avatars in the hallway

These photos were all taken by my partner, Patty Mooney who serves as producer and/or sound technician on broadcast video shoots.

San Diego Comic Con is Coming - by Mark Schulze

San Diego Comic Con is coming, and it's coming fast. After a quick glance at their website, one can see that Friday and Saturday (July 24 and 25) are already sold out; these are the times when you will see the most costumed characters in every corner of the San Diego Convention Center halls. These are the two days that Comic Con fans spend the year preparing themselves for. If you position yourself in the right place at the right time with a camera, the crowds will slowly shuffle on by, providing great photo ops.

Thankfully we have press credentials in hand, and so we will be on our way into the maelstrom once more, just as we have done for over a decade, as an elite broadcast video production crew, gathering images from the convention floor and beyond!

San Diego Convention Center, street level

Check out the Caped Crusader's double chin; looks like he picked up a few things for the bat cave

Actor Hugh Jackman makes a surprise appearance in 2008

Actor Beau Bridges talks about Stargate: Continuum on the flight deck of the USS Midway, 2008

Stay tuned for more Comic Con photos taken over the last ten years, in the days and weeks to come, as our way of gearing up for San Diego's largest convention.

These photographs were taken by Patty Mooney